Electrical insect destroying apparatus



Aug. 26, 1958 B. J. HANSON ETAL ELECTRICAL INSECT DESTROYING APPARATUSFiled Feb. 8, 1957 BRYAN J HANSON MAUD DEE HANSON 7 shown.

llnited States Patent 2,848,337 Patented Aug. 26, 1958 ice 2,848,837ELEQTRICAL ENSECT DESTROYING APPARATUS Bryan J. Hanson and Maud DeeHanson, Yakima, Wash.

Applieation February 8, 1957, Serial No. 639,063

8 Claims. (Cl. 43-113) The present invention relates to an electricalinsect destroying apparatus.

A primary object of the. invention is to provide a highly simplifiedapparatus of the above-mentioned character, which is quite economical tomanufacture and highly eflicient in operation for attracting and killinginsects in large numbers.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a device of theabove-mentioned type a novel adjustable electrical heating element whichkills the insects and substantially completely burns or consumes them,so that only a small amount of ash remains upon a removable heatresistant pad constituting a part of the device.

Another object is to provide an adjustable electrical heating elementincluding a bendable relatively stiff wire supporting frame, which alsoconducts current to the heating element wire carried by the frame, theframe and heating element wire being readily adjustable to surroundlight bulbs ofvarious sizes, and to position the heating element in thedesired manner relative to the reflector and light bulb.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

Figure l is a front elevation of an electrical insect destroyingapparatus in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an enlarged central vertical longitudinal section through asocket element or adapter and associated elements, and

Figure 4 is an enlarged central vertical longitudinal section throughthe free end portion of the heating element and bendable frame.

In the drawings, where for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 19 designates a metallight reflector which may be a sheet metal parabolic reflector, or oneof a similar conventional shape. The reflector is provided at its rearor closed side and centrally thereof with a screwthreaded tubular socketextension 11 preferably formed integral therewith. The socket extension11 may have screw-threaded engagement within a suitable holder or block12 formed of plastic or other insulating material. The holder 12 may beheld in the hand or supported in a fixed or adjustable manner by anydesired means, not An electrical cable 13 extends to a suitable sourceof current, and one wire 14 of the cable 13 is electrically connected at15 to the socket extension 11, Figure 2. The other wire 16 of the cable13 is electrically connected with a conducting terminal 17 encasedwithin an insulating plug 18, which is in turn fixedly secured Withinthe rear end portion of the extension 11. The terminal 17 carries acontact spring 19 at its forward end, arranged centrally within theextension 11, as shown. The block or holder 12 is suitably recessed toreceive the 2 wires 14 and 16 and associated elements, as shown inFigure 2.

Adjustably mounted within the screw-threaded extension 11 and havingscrew-threaded engagement therein is a metallic tubular screw-threadedadapter 20 having its forward end open to receive the metallicscrew-threaded terminal 20 of a conventional incandescent light bulb 21.The rear end of the adapter 20 remote from the light bulb is closed by asuitable plug 22 of insulating material, rigidly connected with theadapter 20 at 2 3, and disposed centrally therein. The plug 22 hasenclosed centrally therein an' electrical terminal pin 24, provided atits rear end with a head 25 adapted to contact the spring 19 in themanner shown in Figure 2. The forward end of the pin 24 has securedthereto a contact spring 26 similar to the spring 19, for engagementwith the central terminal 27 of the light bulb 21. The element 11constitutes an outer socket, and the adapter 20 constitutes an innersocket. The term socket means as employed in the claims is intended tocover either or both sockets.

The adjustable heating element comprises a relatively stiff bendablesupporting wire frame or element 28,. also adapted to. conduct current,and havingone end portion free of insulation and formed into a pluralityof helical coils 29, integral therewith, and adapted for screw-threadedengagement upon the forward portion of the adapter 219. The wire frame28 is formed of a relatively heavy section of wire, which. althoughreadily bendable, will retain its shape when bent or adjusted asdesired.

The current carrying wire frame 28 iscovered throughout the, majorportion of its length with an electrical and heat insulating sleeve 30,preferably formed of asbestos or the like. A coiled relatively flexibleheating element wire 31 extends spirally about the insulating sleeve 30,as shown in the drawings, and the heating elementwire is preferably acontinuous coiled length of resistance Wire or the like. As best shownin Figure 4, the forward extremity of the wire frame 28 is bare or freeof insulation as at 32, Figure 4, and. the corresponding forwardextremity 33 of the heating element wire 31 is wound about the wireportion 32 so as to be firmly secured thereto, making goodelectricalcontact therewith. These wire extremities 32 and 33 areenclosed by a suitable insulating cap 34 pressed onto the wire extremity32, Figure 4. The forward end .of, the asbestos insulating sleeveterminates at the inner end of the cap 34, as shown.

Near the rear end of the insulating sleeve 30, a portion 35 of theheating element wire 31 extends from the wire frame 28 for electricalconnection at 36 with a short section of relatively stiff insulated wire37. One end portion of the wire 37 extends through and is secured withina side opening 38 formed through the adapted 20 near its longitudinalcenter, Figure 3. The inner terminal portion of the short wire 37 iselectrically connected at 39 with the-terminal pin 24, Figure 3.

It should be apparent from the above description that an electricalcircuit is formed through one wire 16 of the cable 13 and through theterminal elements 17 and 19 to the terminal 25 of the adapter 20. Thecircuit continues through-the pin 24 and contac element 26 to thecentral terminal 27 of the light bulb 21. From the terminal 27, thecircuit continues through the filament of the light bulb to the outerterminal 20 thereof, and from this outer terminal 20' back to theadapter 20 and thence to the element 11, and finally to the other wire14 of the cable 13. In like manner, a circuit is established through theWire 16 and elements 17, 19 and 25, to the terminal 39 of the short wire37, and from this wire, through the connection 36 to the coiled heatingelement wire 35. The circuit continues through the heating element wireto the forward terminal formed by the connection of the wire portions 32and 33 and from this connection back through the wire frame 28 andthrough the coils 29 thereof 'to the adapter 20, and through the adapterto the outer socket element 11 and fp ame such element to the other Wire14 of the cable 13.

A removable pad 40 of asbestos or the like is positioned within thelower-portion o f the reflector 10, be-

neath the light bulb 21 and heating element. The pad 44? preferablyextends over a relatively wide area of the lower portion of thereflector but its precise size is not critical. 7 w 7 A combined padclamping and ash retaining member 41 of sheet metal or the like isprovided, and the member 41 comprises an elongated arcuate body portion42 arranged just inwardly" of the forward side of the reflectorand'extends throughout substantially the full circumferential width ofthe pad 40. The body portion 42 of the element 4-1 is preferablyarranged at right angles tothe longitudinal axis of the reflector 10, soas to project above the pad 40, for the purpose of preventing the ashesof the burned insects from spilling from the reflector. The body portion42 is provided at its opposite ends with integral generally U-shapedclips 43, which engage over the edges of the reflector and pad 40 forthe purpose of releasably securing the pad 46 in place within thereflector. The upstanding body portion 42. may be further provided nearone end with a notch 44, within which the forward or free end of theheating element and wire frame 28 may be detachably anchored, as shownin a 4 ash from spilling from the forward end of the reflector prior tothe desired time.

It should now be apparent that there has been provided a highlysimplified and compact electrical apparatus for substantially completelydestroying large numbers of insects. The device is inexpensive tomanufacture and sturdy and durable. It is readily adjustable so thatlight bulbs of various sizes may be employed as desired. We wish topoint out that it is not our intention to limit the invention to theparticular reflector 10 shown in the drawing for the purpose ofillustration, and the novel adjustable heating element may be used withvarious other types of reflectors as desired. Also, for convenience, the

the drawings. If preferred, the notch 44may be omitted entirely, and ifprovided, it need not be utilized for the purpose shown, because thewire frame 28 is of suflicient rigidity to maintain-its shape after oncebeing bent about the light bulb, as previously stated.

In use, the parts are assembled as above-described, and the light bulb21 of the desired size is chosen and installed in the adapter 20 in themanner shown in Figure 3. The heating element may now be adjustedrelative to the light bulb and reflector 10, bothby the bending ordeforming of the wire frame 28 throughout its length, and by turning ofthe heating elementbodily upon 'the screw-threaded adapter 20, by virtueof the thread-like coils 29 formed upon the wire frame 28. The wireframe 28 may be formed into a generally spiral configuration as shown inFigures 1 and 2, so as to surround the light bulb 21 and besubstantially centered within the reflector 10. The precise spacing oradjustment of the wire heating element with respect to the light bulbmay be varied somewhat as found desirable during the use of the apparatus. Once adjusted, the heating. element will remain in the desiredshape and position, due to the rigidity of the wire frame 28, and thefrictional contact of the coils 29 with the adapter 20. As previouslystated,if desired, the forward insulated end of the heating element maybe anchored within the notch 44 of the member 41.

The apparatus is now supported in the desired manner and the cable 13 isconnected with a source of current for illuminating the light bulb 21and energizing the wire heating element 31. The light from the bulb 21coacting with the reflector 10 will attract large numbers of insects tothe apparatus, and the insects fly into the reflector 1! and come inclose proximity to the wire heating element 31 which is extremely hot.This will instantly kill the insects in large numbers and the headinsects will fall onto the asbestos pad 40. Through continued nearnessto the heating element 31, the dead insects will be apparatus may beequipped with separate switches, not shown, for the light bulb Z1 andheating element, so that when the cable 13 is connected with the sourceof current, the light bulb and the electrical heating element may beindependently energized.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to,

without departing from the spirit ,of the invention or the scope of thesubjoined claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim: 1. Electrical insectkilling apparatus comprising, a light reflector, socket means connectedwith said reflector and including inner and outer terminals adapted forconnection withfa source of current, an electric light bulb includinginner and outer terminals, the outer terminal of the electric light bulbengaging the outer terminal of the socket means and the inner terminalof the electric light bulb engaging the innerterminal, of the socketmeans, a current conducting wire frame secured to theouter terminal ofthe socket means and electrically connected therewith and being bendableso that the frame may be formed about the light bulb and shaped asdesired and will retain such shape when released, a separate wireheating element associated with said wire frame and extendinglongitudinally thereof and having one end electrically connected withthe wire' frame,'and means to electrically connect the opposite end ofthe wire heating element with the inner terminal of the socket means,said wire. heating element being adapted to kill insects which enter thereflector when attracted by the electric light bulb.

2. Electrical-insect killing apparatus comprising, supporting meansincluding a reflector, electrical socket means carried by the reflectorand including an outer tubular terminal and an inner terminal, the outertubular terminal receiving the outer terminal of an electric light bulband the inner terminal-of the socket means engaging the inner terminalof the electric light bulb, the electric light bulb being arrangedwithin the reflector, an electrical conductor bendable self-supportingwire 'frame arrangedwithin the reflector and electrically connected withthe outer terminal element of the socket means and adapted tobe formedinto the desired shape and to retain such shape, insulating materialcovering said wire frame throughout the major portion of its length, anelongated wire heating element mounted upon the insulating material andhaving one end electrically connectedwith the electrical wire conductingframe, means to connect the opposite end of the wire heating elementwith the inner terminal of the socket means, the wire heating elementserving to kill and burn insects which :enter the reflector. i.

3. Electrical insect killing apparatus comprising, a light reflector,electrical socket-meansl mounted within the reflector, said socket meansincluding an outer tubular terminal element and an inner terminalelement, an electric light bulb including an outer terminal element andan inner terminal element, the outer terminal element of the bulbengaging within the outertubular terminal element pf the socket meansand the inner terminal element of the bulb engaging the inner terminalelement of the socket means, an elongated relatively stiff electricalconductor wire frame arranged within the reflector and having one endelectrically connected with the outer tubular terminal element of thesocket means and bendable so that the Wire frame may be formed about thelight bulb in spaced relation thereto and also spaced from thereflector, an insulating sleeve mounted upon the Wire frame, a wireheating element mounted externally upon the insulating sleeve andextending for a major portion of the length of the sleeve, said wireheating element being electrically connected in series with the internalterminal element of the socket means and said wire frame.

4. Electrical insect killing apparatus comprising, a reflector, a socketdevice connected with the reflector and including an outerscrew-threaded tubular terminal element and an inner terminal element,an adapter element including an outer tubular screw-threaded terminalelement and an inner terminal element, the outer tubular screw-threadedterminal element of the adapter being arranged within the outerscrew-threaded tubular element of the socket device and the innerterminal element of the adapter engaging the inner terminal element ofthe socket device, a light bulb arranged within the reflector and havingan outer screw-threaded terminal to engage Within the outer tubularscrew-threaded terminal of the adapter and an inner terminal to engagewith the inner terminal of the adapter, a current conducting bendableWire frame adapted to be formed around the light bulb in spaced relationthereto and to be spaced from the reflector, a plurality of currentconducting coils formed upon one end of the current conducting frame,and having screw-threaded engagement with the exterior of thescrew-threaded outer terminal element of the adapter whereby the wireframe may be turned bodily upon its longitudinal axis to adjust the samecircumferentially with respect to the light bulb and reflector, and aresistance heating element carried by the electric conducting wire frameand having one end thereof connected with such frame and its oppositeend connected with the inner terminal element of the adapter.

5. Electrical insect killing apparatus comprising, a reflector, anelectrical adapter element secured within the reflector and including anouter screw-threaded tubular terminal element and an inner terminalelement, the outer tubular terminal element receiving the outer terminalelement of an electric light bulb and the inner terminal element of theadapter engaging the inner terminal of said bulb, the bulb beingarranged Within the reflector, an electrical conductor bendable Wireframe provided at one end with a coiled portion to surround and engagethe outer tubular terminal element of the adapter to electricallyconnect the wire frame with the same and to bodily support the Wireframe by the outer tubular terminal element of the adapter, a sleeve ofinsulating material mounted upon the wire frame and extending throughouta major portion of its length, a separate wire heating element mountedupon the insulating sleeve and arranged exteriorly thereof and havingone end electrically connected with the electrical conducting frame, andmeans electrically connecting the wire heating element with the innerterminal of the adapter.

6. Electrical insect killing apparatus comprising, a light reflector,electrical socket means connected with the light reflector and includingan outer tubular terminal element and an inner terminal element, a lightbulb arranged within the reflector and including an outer terminalelement to engage Within said outer tubular terminal element and aninner terminal element to engage the firstnamed terminal element, abendable self-supporting elongated heating elemeut mounted upon andelectrically connected with the outer tubular terminal element of thesocket means and also electrically connected with the inner terminalelement of the socket means, said heating element surrounding the lightbulb in spaced relation thereto, a pad of heat resistant materialdisposed in the bottom portion of the reflector beneath the heatingelement, an upstanding ash retaining element disposed upon andprojecting above the pad, and clip means carried by the upstandingelement and engaging the reflector and pad for detachably securing thepad in place upon the reflector.

7. Electrical insect killing apparatus according to claim 6, whereinsaid ash retaining element is provided with a notch adapted to receiveand anchor said bendable heating element.

8. Electrical insect killing apparatus comprising, electrical socketmeans including an outer tubular terminal element and an inner terminalelement, a light bulb including an outer terminal element to engageWithin the outer terminal element of the socket means and an innerterminal element to engage with the first-named inner terminal element,a light reflector surrounding the light bulb, an electrical conductingsupporting element mounted upon and electrically connected with theouter tubular terminal element of the socket means, said supportingelement being arranged within the reflector, an insulating sleevemounted upon the supporting element, a Wire heating element mounted uponthe insulating sleeve and having one end electrically connected Withsaid supporting element, and means electrically connecting the oppositeend of the wire heating element with the inner terminal element of thesocket means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

